Posts Tagged ‘laser’

Introducing iPixel

Wednesday, September 14th, 2011

We are proud to introduce iPixel fractionated CO2 laser resurfacing! Now moderately aggressive skin resurfacing procedures are possible with much less discomfort and considerably less treatment time. Experience laser resurfacing in as little as 5 minutes for a full face!  Address skin texture, tone, fine lines, and photodamage with iPixel!

Before treatment with iPixel

Before treatment with iPixel

After one treatment with iPixel.  Notice a significant improvment of fine lines under eyes

After one treatment with iPixel. Notice a significant improvment of fine lines under eyes

Before treatment with iPixel

Before treatment with iPixel

After one treatment with iPixel.  Notice fewer brown spots, a more even skin tone, and overall improved appearance of the skin.

After one treatment with iPixel. Notice fewer brown spots, a more even skin tone, and overall improved appearance of the skin.

Summer Is Right Around the Corner…Time to Consider Laser Hair Removal

Thursday, April 21st, 2011

cosmetic-dermatologySummer is quickly approaching.  Before we know it, it will be time to hit the beaches again.  The last thing you want after you’ve worked so hard to get beach ready is unsightly razor burn.  Eliminating razor burn and painful in-grown hairs is easier than you might think. 

Laser hair removal is a safe, easy and effective at removing unwanted hair.  Many people are hesitant to do laser hair removal because they’ve heard horror stories about how uncomfortable it is.  New devices, such as the Soprano laser, are virtually pain free- no messy numbing cream required!  The Soprano is also safe for use on darker skin types.  As with all laser hair removal, a series of treatments are required to acheive desired results, but even with just one treatment you should notice a slow in hair re-growth.  Treatments can be repeated every four to six weeks.  

To learn more about Soprano laser hair removal, please click on the following link: Soprano laser hair removal

April is National Rosacea Awareness Month

Wednesday, March 30th, 2011

rosaceaAccording to Practical Dermatology (March 2011), more than 16 million Americans are affected by rosacea.  When most people hear the word rosacea, they think of facial redness.  However, rosacea is a little more complicated than that.  Rosacea is a tendency to flush or blush easily. The condition progresses to persistent redness, pimples, and visible threadlike blood vessels (telangiectasias) in the center of the face. These skin changes can eventually spread to the cheeks, forehead, chin, and nose.  The National Rosacea Society conducted a survey recently in which 76 percent of surveyed rosacea patients stated that their skin condition lowered their self-esteem and self-confidence.  Surprisingly, “only a fraction of the millions of Americans suffering from the condition has been treated”  (Practical Dermatology, March 2011).

So what are the treatment options available to those suffering with rosacea?  Patients may want to consider an oral antibiotic or topical treatments.  There are several prescription, as well as cosmeceutical products that are safe and effective.  In our office, we recommend DermSD Recover which is very effective at reducing redness and calming inflamed skin.  Of course when choosing this treatment method, patient compliance is crucial.  When oral antibiotics and topicals aren’t enough, patients may want to consider laser treatment.  Pulsed dye lasers, like the Vbeam, are extremely effective at reducing redness, minimizing telangiectasias, and decreasing breakouts associated with rosacea.  In this day and age of technology-on-the-go, a new resource will become available to those with rosacea: a smart phone app!  The Rosacea App, which will launch in April, will provide those who have, or think they have rosacea with valuable information. 

To learn more about rosacea and available treatment options, please visit the following links:

San Diego Dermatology Medical Dermatology Reference Library

San Diego Dermatology Blood Vessel Treatment

National Rosacea Society

Case Report: Treating “Sun Spots”

Tuesday, July 6th, 2010

A 62 year-old woman visited the office to discuss photodamage she had accumulated over the years.  She was looking to even out skin tone and  improve the appearance of her skin overall.  She presented with larger lentigos, sometimes referred to as “sun spots” or “age spots,” primarily on her cheeks.

To achieve a dramatic result with limited downtime, I treated the patient with the Qs Alexandrite laser, or Alex for short.  Treatment with the Alex laser is very well tolerated, but some patients prefer to have a topical numbing cream applied which stays on the skin for up to 10 minutes.  The actual laser procedure only takes about 15 minutes to treat the entire face.  The areas that were treated with the laser appear slightly red and swollen, similar to a bug bite.  That redness and swelling decreases significantly the next day and the treated spots will appear slightly darker before sloughing off about one week later.  During that week, patients may wear make-up and resume all their normal activites, but should wear sunscreen and a hat while outdoors.  After about a week, patients can expect the lentigos to be much lighter, if not completely removed.

To learn more about this and other cosmetic procedures offered in our office, please follow this link to our website: San Diego Dermatology and Laser Surgery: Cosmetic Dermatology

Before treatment with Qs Alexandrite laser

Before treatment with Qs Alexandrite laser

After 1 treatment- notice that the large brown spots have resolved resulting in an impressive improvement

After 1 treatment- notice that the large brown spots have resolved resulting in an impressive improvement.

Case Report: Treating Sun Spots With Alex Laser

Thursday, April 15th, 2010

A 63 year-old woman presented in the office with concerns about brown sun spots that had developed on the backs of her hands as a result of years of sun exposure.

“Sun spots,” or lentigos, are a relatively easy fix.  I treated the patient with the Qs Alexandrite Laser, a device that targets brown spots caused from sun exposure over the years.  After one treatment the patient’s brown spots had resolved, or lightened significantly.  The patient was very pleased with her results.

L hand

Before and after (1 treatment)

Before and after Qs Alexandrite Laser for treatment of sun spots (1 treatment)

Before and after Qs Alexandrite Laser for treatment of sun spots (1 treatment). Notice how the elimination of brown spots results in more youthful looking hands!

Treatment with the Qs Alexandrite Laser is a quick and easy procedure with minimal downtime.  After treatment the spots will appear slightly darker for about one week on the face, and about 2 weeks on the hands before exfoliating off.  It is important to wear sunscreen regularly to avoid getting new brown spots after treatment.  When applying sunscreen pay special attention to face, neck, chest and back of hands as those areas are most exposed to sun and most susceptible to brown spots.

To learn more about Qs Alexandrite Laser, please follow the link to our website: Brown Spot Removal